East Wenatchee Water District Water Company

In Washington state, lead in household water primarily comes from plumbing materials and fixtures. When water sits in pipes for 6 hours or more, it can dissolve metals like lead. Elevated lead levels pose serious health risks, especially for pregnant women and young children.

To minimize lead exposure:

• Run your tap until the water becomes noticeably colder before using it for drinking or cooking if it hasn't been used for 6+ hours. This flushed water can be used for plants, dishes, or general cleaning.
• Only use cold water for drinking, cooking, and especially baby formula preparation, as hot water typically contains higher lead levels.

If concerned about lead, consider water testing. Information about lead in drinking water is available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. The Washington State Department of Health offers guidance on reducing lead exposure at www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Contaminants/Lead.

Additional recommendations:

• Regularly clean faucet screens and aerators to remove trapped particles.
• Use only "lead-free" plumbing materials during construction or remodeling.

Our Water: East Wenatchee monitors for lead and copper following Department of Health requirements. Our system size requires testing 30 homes every three years, selecting those most vulnerable to lead and copper corrosion. Our next sampling round will occur in September 2017. All previous samples tested below action levels for both lead and copper. For the latest results, please see the data table in this report. For questions about water quality, call us at (509) 888-3228.

Other potential lead sources include:

• Soil - especially in former orchard areas where lead dust can be tracked indoors
• Paint - homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, particularly problematic when peeling or during renovations
• Imported items - some countries have less stringent standards, allowing lead in toys, jewelry, and candy

1. Where does East Wenatchee Water District water come from?
   East Wenatchee Water District supplies purchased groundwater to East Wenatchee, Washington.
2. Does East Wenatchee Water District test its tap water?
   Yes. Like every public water system, East Wenatchee Water District must test its water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and publish an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report). Ask the utility for the latest report or look for it on its website.
3. How do I contact East Wenatchee Water District?
   Call 509-884-3569 or visit 692 Eastmont Ave, East Wenatchee, WA 98802, or use the contact options on the utility’s website.
4. Does East Wenatchee Water District water contain lead?
   Water usually leaves the treatment plant without lead. Lead can enter tap water from older service lines, solder and brass fixtures inside homes, especially when water sits in the pipes. Run the tap before drinking if water has been sitting, and ask the utility about lead testing and service line records.
5. Is East Wenatchee Water District water hard?
   Hardness depends on the source and changes over time. The annual water quality report lists hardness, or you can test it at home. If it is above about 7 grains per gallon, a water softener sized to your measured hardness will stop scale and spotting.